Plant half-hardy hybrid gladiolus corms directly outside in mid to late spring, or start them under cover earlier. Hardy naturalising types, including Gladiolus byzantinus, can be planted in autumn or spring. Always plant corms during the season in which they arrive.
Out of season
Gladiolus
'Purple Art'
sword lily
Channel your inner hippie with the distinctly tie-die-like flowers of Gladiolus 'Purple Art'. With shades of mauve, purple, and white appearing in broad, irregular bands across each generously sized, shaggy bloom, this cultivar is certain to turn heads in your garden. Undeniably fabulous, Gladiolus 'Purple Art' can be used to showstopping effect in a variety of colour schemes, but our favourite planting combo has to be when it erupts from a sea of dark foliage from neighbouring plants, such as Dahlia 'Crème de Cassis', Phlox 'Blind Lion', Geranium 'Pink Coffee' or Polemonium 'Heaven Scent'. Sumptuous, bold, and dramatic. What could be better?
Gladiolus 'Purple Art' is particularly fabulous and eye catching, yet incredibly easy to grow. To stretch out your gladiolus season as much as possible, we recommend making several staggered plantings throughout April and May. Choose a sunny and well-draining a spot as possible and plant your Gladiolus 'Purple Art' corms at three times their depth. Add plenty of spares for the vase—you’ll want to enjoy these both indoors and out!
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Grow gladioli in full sun, in a sheltered border or large patio container. They need free-draining conditions, so improve heavy soil with organic matter and grit or plant into a raised bed. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost.
Position each corm with its pointed side facing upwards, around 10–15cm deep. Space them approximately 10cm apart when planting in groups. A generous cluster creates a fuller display and allows the flower spikes to offer one another some support.
Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the soil to become nearly dry between waterings while the corms remain dormant. Once shoots appear, water regularly throughout active growth, particularly during warm, dry weather and when growing gladioli in containers.
Most gladioli remain upright without help, although staking is useful in exposed or windy positions. Remove faded flower spikes just above the foliage, then leave the leaves to die back naturally. They can be cut down to ground level in autumn.
Lift half-hardy hybrid gladiolus corms in autumn and store them somewhere cool, dry and frost free. These varieties often give their strongest display in their first year. Hardy naturalising gladioli can remain outdoors where the soil drains freely and does not become waterlogged.
- Botanical name
- Gladiolus 'Purple Art'
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Corm size
- 12/14
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 10-20cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 30 corms per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Borders
Coastal gardens
Gravel gardens
Cottage gardens
Cut flower Gardens
Large containers - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Good for cutting
Pollinator-friendly
Thrives in full sun
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
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